Although some other communities have posted such signs widely in residentialareas, no factual evidence has been presented to document their success inreducing pedestrian accidents, operating speeds or legal liability. Studies haveshown that many types of signs attempting to warn of normal conditions inresidential areas have failed to achieve desired safety benefits. Unnecessary signsconfuse and annoy drivers. Since nearly every residential block has childrenliving on it, there would have to be signs on each one. Blocks with no such signsmight imply that no children live there, so it is okay to speed.

Because of these serious considerations, theManual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices,which has been adopted as the Federal Standard,discourages use of “CHILDREN AT PLAY”signs. The City of Hutchinson and the State ofKansas have also adopted the Manual of UniformTraffic Control Devices. The signs are notenforceable and impose no legal requirements onmotorists.